DCA's ignoring my F&F offers!

fallen2k8

Hi all,
I've been in negotiations with my DCA's regarding full and final offers on my accounts. As it stands I have got 2 debts with Link financial, 1 with Lowell (previously managed by NCO) and Wescot remaining.

With Link financial I have had to send off a second letter since they completely ignored the first one for a month or so, I then got a measly reply back from them saying that they rejected my offer and that I should contact their accounts team over the phone to discuss the matter (probably a template letter). I just can't seem to be getting through to them by mail and I do not want to call up their offices. Has anyone had any experience with Link financial? what's the best way to get tackle them?

Wescot did offer me 50% after my first letter sends (@25%) to which I replied with a second letter, reiterating that the funds are limited and that this offer may not be available again. It has now been just over a month and I haven't heard from them. Again, I'd like to avoid contacting their offices via phone.

Lastly, NCO Europe has been managing a debt on behalf of Lowell which is for a defaulted online shopping account, which started in 2008. I do not recall signing any agreement and I have heard that a lot of these type of accounts have been deemed UE around that time. Similar to the above, I have sent out full and finals out @ 25% and got no response (after a month), I then resent the letter and they replied saying that they can accept 90% on behalf of Lowell.

I then sent out a CCA request to NCO RE this account and the next thing I got is a letter from Lowell saying that they've been handed back the account by NCO and that they have been informed that I am going through a time of financial hardship and they offered a 'Payment holiday' thereby putting my account on hold for 60 days. Really confusing because I contacted them regarding a full and final settlement and that message clearly wasn't sent.

I do not know how to proceed from here and I am in need of some guidance in regards to my next steps, I would appreciate any help greatly

Cheers!

January2015

I sent my F&Fs in on 12th September. I've had some replies, but I'm still waiting on quite a few. I've been through this before. If your debts are with a DCA and they are just managing the debt for the original lender, the DCA has to contact the original lender and negotiate with them before they can come back to you. It's not a quick process.

Chase it up if you want to you - me I just sit and wait and let them contact me when they are ready. If they don't accept what I have offered they can continue getting the token payments I am making.

sourcrates

You are making the mistake of thinking your dealing with intelligent and rashional people, you are not, these companies exist to make money, bottom line is everything, do you not think debt collectors read forums such as this ?

They are well aware of all the “tricks” to get offers accepted, timing is everything in this game, and you are not the only customer, your just one of millions, it all takes time.

Best advice is just be persistent.

fatbelly

Yep, it can be a long process. Actually getting a 50% offer from one of four creditors after one letter is quite good.

I understand not wanting to talk to them and that is our usual advice. But in this situation it can speed things up, as long as you then get the final deal confirmed in writing.

You are unlucky that 2 of the 4 are with Link as other posters have also found them difficult.

Edit: just searched the F&F thread - it seems many Link debts are unenforceable so a CCA request is definitely worth doing. Whambam (poster with unusual number of deals) got two successes at 55% and 80%. Also found this:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=73191000&postcount=1905

fallen2k8

January2015 wrote: »

I sent my F&Fs in on 12th September. I've had some replies, but I'm still waiting on quite a few. I've been through this before. If your debts are with a DCA and they are just managing the debt for the original lender, the DCA has to contact the original lender and negotiate with them before they can come back to you. It's not a quick process.

Chase it up if you want to you - me I just sit and wait and let them contact me when they are ready. If they don't accept what I have offered they can continue getting the token payments I am making.

I was also thinking this too. I then found out they were a collections partner of Lowell (which I found to be a debt collection agency - hence purchased the debt from the original lender). The only question is since this was a mail order account - would firing off a CCA request be useful? I understood that for overdrafts they arent.

sourcrates wrote: »

You are making the mistake of thinking your dealing with intelligent and rashional people, you are not, these companies exist to make money, bottom line is everything, do you not think debt collectors read forums such as this ?

They are well aware of all the “tricks” to get offers accepted, timing is everything in this game, and you are not the only customer, your just one of millions, it all takes time.

Best advice is just be persistent.

I just received another letter from Lowell today saying that they're happy to consider my offer @25% in light of my health issues (which I haven't stated any?) and that they'll need to see some medical proof before consideration - complete idiocy. I will just email them back and see what I can do from there. But you are right, Persistence is key. Either way, I will have to play the waiting game.

fatbelly wrote: »

Yep, it can be a long process. Actually getting a 50% offer from one of four creditors after one letter is quite good.

I understand not wanting to talk to them and that is our usual advice. But in this situation it can speed things up, as long as you then get the final deal confirmed in writing.

You are unlucky that 2 of the 4 are with Link as other posters have also found them difficult.

Edit: just searched the F&F thread - it seems many Link debts are unenforceable so a CCA request is definitely worth doing. Whambam (poster with unusual number of deals) got two successes at 55% and 80%. Also found this:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=73191000&postcount=1905

I'll phone call as a last resort but should I perhaps try email? I also got another letter from link financial today, they sent the exact same thing (rejected offer, call us to discuss). I'm worried about the two debts with link, are they a 'competent' DCA and are they known to be litigious?

Cheers to everyone for the help. Much appreciated.

Westie983

fallen2k8 wrote: »

I was also thinking this too. I then found out they were a collections partner of Lowell (which I found to be a debt collection agency - hence purchased the debt from the original lender). The only question is since this was a mail order account - would firing off a CCA request be useful? I understood that for overdrafts they arent.



I just received another letter from Lowell today saying that they're happy to consider my offer @25% in light of my health issues (which I haven't stated any?) and that they'll need to see some medical proof before consideration - complete idiocy. I will just email them back and see what I can do from there. But you are right, Persistence is key. Either way, I will have to play the waiting game.




I'll phone call as a last resort but should I perhaps try email? I also got another letter from link financial today, they sent the exact same thing (rejected offer, call us to discuss). I'm worried about the two debts with link, are they a 'competent' DCA and are they known to be litigious?

Cheers to everyone for the help. Much appreciated.

How did you get on? As others have said speaking to them is not bad at this stage and could speed the process up and as long as you get any full and final offers in writing.

Good luck and well done on your success so far

Westie983